HOUSEHOLDERS in Little Harwood will hold a public meeting, attended by council chiefs, on Thursday to discuss the deterioration of their local environment.

The organisers hope to set up a residents’ association for Bank Hey, Sunny Bower and Stonehill to look after the area.

Liz and Bob Lawson of Bank Hey Lane South have called the meeting after a footpath at the end of the lane became overgrown.

They are concerned about the way Blackburn with Darwen Council has handled new development at the end of the pathway with lorries using the lane on a regular basis.

The circular advertising the meeting at Little Harwood Community Centre at 6pm on Thursday asks for residents to attend ‘to show your interest in finding a solution for the present problem with the formation of a residents association’.

It highlights the confusion over whether the end of Bank Hey Lane South is a footpath or a highway, and concern that while the end section remains a footpath that is marked off by bollards, the remainder has become a vehicle thoroughfare. The calling notice says: “The public ‘pathway’ is now widened, allowing for the passage of lorries and other heavily-laden vehicles, resulting mud and piles of earth spoiling what is still a public walkway.”

It says when 4.75 acres of land was privately-sold three years councillors assured residents that ‘not a dog kennel would be permitted and certainly no-one could reside there’. Since then part has been tarmacced and two static homes and a hen shed had appeared and the grassy path alongside the playing field fenced off and become ‘overgrown’.

The circular adds: “If you are concerned about the change in the quality of our local environment, the loss of amenities and the risk to the safety of the many of us who use the area for pleasure, dog-walking as a route to schools, work etc, show your interest by attending the meeting.”

Little Harwood councillor Pat McFall said: “I shall be attending the meeting on Thursday.

“I am aware of local residents concerns and I am hopeful all the problems can be resolved amicably.

“Setting up a residents association seems a good idea. There has been a successful one at Roe Lee for many years.”